Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for the U.S. Open to go ahead on Long Island this summer, even though some players have criticized the tournament being held.

There will be no fans in the stands at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center because of the coronavirus pandemic.



“We’re excited about the U.S. Open, (which) is going to be held in Queens, Aug. 31 through Sept. 13. It will be held without fans, but you can watch it on TV — and I’ll take that,” Cuomo said Tuesday in his daily briefing. “The tennis authorities are going to be taking extraordinary precautions, but that’s going to take place.”

The coronavirus has hit New York the hardest of all states, with nearly 385,000 residents testing positive and almost 25,000 fatalities. The decision to hold the tournament has not sat well with some players, including No. 1 players Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty, who have expressed concerns with the health protocols.

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal also has said he can’t envision traveling to New York in August to defend his title.

Most recently, Australian Nick Kyrgios tweeted Monday night that the Americans were “selfish” for holding the U.S. Open.

“Smh – people that live in the US of course are pushing the Open to go ahead ‘Selfish’ I’ll get my hazmat suit ready for when I travel from Australia and then have to quarantine for 2 weeks on my return.”

Smh – people that live in the US of course are pushing the Open to go ahead ??????? ‘Selfish’ I’ll get my hazmat suit ready for when I travel from Australia and then have to quarantine for 2 weeks on my return.

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 16, 2020

The USTA hasn’t publicly released the health protocols in place.



Tennis has been on hiatus since March, forcing the cancellation of Wimbledon and the rescheduling of the French Open to August.

Traditionally the fourth Grand Slam tournament of the season, the U.S. Open will be the second this year. The Australian Open was played in January.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)